About Acupuncture
Definitions
Oriental Medicine
Oriental medicine is comprised of many modalities, techniques and styles which include acupuncture, chinese herbs, oriental massage, Gua Sha, cupping, Reflexology, Tuina, Moxibustion, and diet and nutrition. Oriental medicine is a complete system of health care and addresses most types of health conditions.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting very fine needles into acupuncture points on the body, causing healing and balance.
Chinese Herbs
Chinese herbal therapy has literary roots in China over 2000 years and involves a combination of over 400 plants and plant parts including roots, barks, leaves, flowers, berries and sometimes animal parts and insects. These are combined into formulas which can be tailored to each individual. Case or premade patent medicines are sometimes administered.
Oriental Massage
Oriental Massage (Tuina, Shiatsu, Amma) is a composition of therapeutic massage techniques for balancing mind and body. It is often used as an adjunct to acupuncture and herbs.
Other Techniques
- Cupping involves placing glass or plastic cups with suction over acupuncture points of the body for the purpose of removing stagnation, expelling a pathogen, or moving stuck energy.
- Moxibustion is heat therapy performed by using moxa from the mugwort plant. It may be rolled into a cigar shape, lighted and held an inch or two above the skin, or placed in a container and moved over the body.
- Guasha is a gentle scraping of the skin with a Chinese porcelain soup spoon or canning lid for the purpose of removing fairly superfical stagnation.
- Electrical stimulation uses low voltage hooked up to the acupuncture needles for the purpose of strongly stimulating the point.
Symptoms Treated with Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture
General
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Allergies
- Dizziness
- Eye Problems
- Stroke
- Nausea
- Addiction Control
- Athletic Performance
- Blood Pressure Regulation
- Smoking Cessation
- Immune System Deficiencies
Pain
- Acute/Chronic
- Arthritis
- Low Back
- Shoulder
- Hip, Knee
- Heel, Hand
- Headaches
- Sports Injuries
- Frozen Shoulder
- Tennis Elbow
- Sciatica
- Back Pain
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Muscle Cramping
- Postoperative Pain
- Muscle Pain and Weakness
- Neck Pain
Digestive
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Acid Reflux
- Indigestion
Respiratory System
- Acute Sinusitis
- Acute Rhinitis
- Common Cold
- Acute Tonsillitis
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bronchial Asthma
Gynecological
- PMS
- Fertility
- Menopausal
- Amenorrhea
- Dysmenorrhea
Eye, Ears
- Acute Conjunctivitis
- Central Retinitis
- Myopia (in children)
- Cataract
- Tinnitus
Gastro-Intestinal
- Spasms of Esophagus and Cardia
- Hiccough
- Gastroptosis
- Acute And Chronic Gastritis
- Gastric Hyperacidity
- Chronic Duodenal Ulcer (pain relief)
- Acute Duodenal Ulcer
- Acute And Chronic Colitis
- Acute Bacillary Dysentery
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Paralytic Ileus
- Abdominal Pain
- Indigestion
Mouth
- Toothache
- Post-Extraction Pain
- Gingivitis
- Acute And Chronic Pharyngitis
Neurological & Musculo-Skeletal
- Headache and Migraine
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Facial Palsy
- Pareses following a Stroke
- Peripheral Neuropathies
- Sequelae of Poliomyelitis
- Meniere's Disease
- Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction
- Nocturnal Enuresis
- Intercostal Neuralgia
- Cervicobrachial Syndrome
- Parkinson's
- Stroke
Emotional
- Stress/Anxiety
- Depression
- Addictions
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Neurosis
- Stress Reduction
Cosmetic
- Face Lifts
- Wrinkles
- Scars
What the World Health Organization is saying about acupuncture
Source: "Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials" by the World Health Organization Download this study in PDF format
"Acupuncture analgesia ... in the treatment of chronic pain is comparable with that of morphine..... acupuncture analgesia can be regarded as the method of choice for treating many chronically painful conditions..."
"Strokes and their sequelae are another major indication for acupuncture. Early treatment of paresis after stroke has proven highly effective... In randomized controlled studies, acupuncture treatment of hemiplegia due to cerebral infarction gave better results than conventional medication and physiotherapy....Good effects with Bell's Palsy have been reported..."
"Acupuncture is more effective than antihistamine drugs in the treatment of allergic rhinitis."
"Primary dysmenorrhea ... is one of the major indications for acupuncture in the field of gynecology"
"Acupuncture seems to be helpful to patients with [pre-menstrual disorders]. In a controlled study, the majority of the patients gained relief from symptoms and no recurrence in the six month follow-up"
"Insomnia can also be treated successfully with acupuncture"
"The effect of acupuncture on depression has been documented repeatedly in controlled studies"
What the NIH is saying about acupuncture
Source: nccam.nih.gov/research/results/acu-osteo.htm
"A landmark study has shown that acupuncture provides pain relief and improves function for people with osteoarthritis of the knee and serves as an effective complement to standard care."